Microphone line based detection of headset plug removal

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention include methods, apparatus, systems and means for distinguishing between microphone line signals resulting from: actuation of a microphone button of a headset plugged into a telephone device jack, and removal of the headset plug form the jack. During a telephone call, a first signal can be detected on a microphone line of a headset jack to indicate whether a microphone button of the headset is actuated. Also, while the headset plug is being disconnected from the jack, a transition on the microphone line can be detected, from a second signal indicating that the microphone is being disconnected, to a third signal indicating that the microphone button is actuated. Consequently, to avoid erroneously hanging up a call, transitions to the third signal when removing the plug form the jack can be ignored and the call can be maintained. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for operating a telephony device having a headset jack to connect with a headset plug of a headset, the headset having a microphone and a microphone button, comprising:
 during a telephone call, detecting a first signal on a microphone line of the headset jack, with the microphone connected thereto, wherein the first signal indicates that the microphone button is not actuated; and then 
 while the headset plug is being disconnected from the jack, detecting a second signal indicating that the microphone is disconnected, and a third signal indicating that the microphone button is actuated. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising detecting removal of the headset plug from the jack, after detecting transition. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the transition on the microphone line is detected without first having detecting removal of the headset plug. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein detecting the transition further comprises detecting a plurality of transitions from a plurality of the second signals, to a plurality of the third signals. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 , wherein detecting the transition further comprises detecting a plurality of transitions from the third signal back to the second signal, after detecting each transition from the second signal to the third signal. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , wherein the second signal is a signal indicating an open circuit, and wherein the third signal is a signal that indicates a substantially lower impedance path than path on the microphone line when detecting the first signal. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the transition comprises one of a transition from a lower current signal to a higher current signal, a transition from a signal indicating an open circuit to a signal that indicates a substantially lower impedance path than a path on the microphone line when detecting the first signal. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein an amplitude of the second signal is not between an amplitude of the first signal and an amplitude of the third signal. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the amplitude of the second signal is below the amplitude of the first signal and is below the amplitude of the third signal. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second signals occur within a specified time. 
     
     
       11. A telephony device comprising:
 a headset jack to receive a headset plug of a headset; and 
 a call management circuit coupled to the jack, the call management circuit to detect a signal on a microphone line of the headset jack during an ongoing call; 
 the call management circuit to hang up the call in response to detecting that the microphone line has transitioned from a first stable DC level to a third stable DC level indicating a user's actuation of a switch in a connected headset, and further operative to detect a second stable DC level that is different than the first and third levels. 
 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising a plug detect circuit coupled to the jack to detect removal of the headset plug from the jack, wherein the call circuit can detect the transition independently of the plug detect circuit detecting removal of the plug from the jack. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising a balance circuit coupled to the call circuit to cause the call circuit to detect a plurality of transitions from a plurality of the second stable DC levels, to a plurality of the third stable DC levels. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the balance circuit is to cause the call circuit to detect a plurality of transitions from the third signal back to the second signal, after detecting each transition from the second signal to the third signal. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the second signal is a signal indicating an open circuit; and wherein the third signal is a signal that indicates a substantially lower impedance path than a path on the microphone line when detecting the first signal. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein in response to detecting that the microphone line has transitioned from the first DC level to the third DC level is through a second stable DC level, the call circuit one of ignores the signal level indicating the user's actuation of the switch, maintains a telephone call after detecting the transition, and causes music not to start playing after detecting the transition. 
     
     
       17. A telephone device comprising:
 a headset jack to receive a plug of a headset; and 
 a call management circuit coupled to the jack, the call management circuit to detect a signal on a microphone line of the headset jack during an ongoing call, the call management circuit to:
 during a telephone call, detect a first signal on a microphone line of the headset jack, with the microphone line connected thereto, wherein the first signal indicates that the microphone button is not actuated; and then 
 while the headset plug is being disconnected from the jack, detect a second signal indicating that the microphone is disconnected, and a third signal indicating that the microphone button is actuated. 
 
 
     
     
       18. A method for operating a telephony device having a headset jack to connect with a headset plug of a headset, the headset having a microphone and a microphone button, comprising:
 detecting, during an ongoing call, that the microphone line has transitioned from a first stable signal level to a second stable signal level indicating actuation of a switch in a connected headset; and 
 in response thereto, changing an activation state of a microphone.